Caltex marketer Chevron PH funds Manila church’s solar panel acquisition

Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), the local marketer of Caltex products, provided the funding for the San Pablo Apostol Parish’s (SPAP) purchase and installation of solar panels.

In a statement, the CPI said that the donation to the Tondo-based church was the pilot project’s “single largest corporate donation.”

The aforementioned project is aimed at cutting down SPAP’s electricity costs as well as reducing its carbon footprint. The savings from the power bill, CPI noted, will be utilized to expand the church’s poverty alleviation, education, and feeding programs.

The CPI donation was made through the Bakhita Canossa Foundation Inc., which is the congregation’s official foundation handling youth development, and livelihood projects as well as feeding programs.

Present at the ceremonial signing of the agreement were Chevron Corporate Affairs Advisor Joel Gaviola; SPAP parish priest Rev. Fr. Rey Daguitera, FdCC; Bakhita Foundation President Rev. Fr. Fermin Leoveras, FdCC; and SasonbiSolar Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dante Briones.

“This donation is aligned with the strategy of Chevron in advancing a lower carbon future. We hope that this will further strengthen SPAP’s capability to support its community members in need,” Gaviola noted.

Meanwhile, Daguitera expressed gratitude towards the donation and shared how the project will impact the church’s overall spending.

“We started a feeding project in 2017 that has since evolved into a livelihood and education program for more than 50 Tondo students and parents. With the solar panels installed, our monthly electricity bill of P80,000 can be reduced to zero. The P13,000-monthly payment will go to amortize the portion of the project cost, which is financed by Sasonbi Inc. who installed the solar panels. Whatever we save will go directly to our social programs. This means we can help more students attain a better future,” he shared.

Further, Leoveras shared Daguitera’s sentiments towards the contribution.

“What the solar panels symbolize to me is life. Like the sun that gives life, these solar panels will also be a source of life for the children of Tondo and the entire community,” he said.

Photos from Chevron Philippines Inc.

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